A Challenge When Writing

“Most misunderstandings in the world could be avoided
if people would simply take the time to ask, "What else could this mean?”
Shannon Adler

by Skip Cohen

​There are moments here and there when I don't get it...but the real issue is written correspondence is the hardest to express and the reader to interpret. 

Here's the scenario:

Yesterday, I posted a piece on FB about ClickCon's move to Detroit. I stated that "finally" the Midwest had a great convention in 2024. In my actual post, I explained my joy in more detail - I grew up in Northeast Ohio and lived there from 2009 to 2011. While it might be considered the Midwest, except for PPO, there was never much to choose from regarding great conventions. ClickCon's move east opens up doors for so many more photographers and includes cities like Toronto, Pittsburgh, Cleveland etc. All closer the Chicago.

A reader in another forum took me to task, feeling my wording on FB was unprofessional and passive-aggressive towards other conventions in the Midwest. I couldn't have been more sincere when I wrote back, "I'm sorry you feel that way." I explained how my FB piece could have been written better. IUSA is in Louisville this year and will be an outstanding show. I also used to speak at Shutterfest for six years and know how good the show can be. I modified what I had previously written and got back a compliment on the change, but she had to add one more line:

"Sorry you feel that way is a gaslight tactic."

Gaslight tactic? Seriously, there was no tactic or strategy to my statement, just sincerity, and it led me to read what I had written and change it.

Years ago, I had the honor of lunch with Senator Howard Baker at the Whitehouse. At the time, he was President Regan's Chief of Staff, but his passion for photography was the reason for the meeting. The key reason I was invited was just to hang out and talk about photography. I was relatively new as the president of Hasselblad, and he was a Nikon and Hasselblad shooter. 

I remember him talking about how difficult it is to write and he told me this story: "Years ago I had to send a memo to another Congressman and wrote, "Sorry this is so long; I didn't have time to make it shorter." It's so hard to be concise in as few words as possible.

Well, here I am 30 years later and still struggling with the written word. It's hard enough for me to be PC, let alone use words that don't come directly from my heart. So, if I've written something in a post that you didn't like or are unsure how to interpret it, let me know, but maybe call me instead of writing; then we've got a chance of getting our point across to each other that much better.